Dispensing carton or container



F. J. ULLRICH ETAL 3,026,013

DISPENSING CARTON 0R CONTAINER March 20, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 27, 1957 m 5 m 6 T CHM N ll BK u W .T ln IT d 6 W n F w K all x qorneq March 20, 1962 F. J. ULLRICH ETAL 3,026,013

DISPENSING CARTON 0R CONTAINER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 27, 1957 AHorneu United States Patent Ofiice 3,026,013 Patented Mar. 20, 1962 3,026,013 DISPENSING CARTON R CONTAINER Fred J. Ullrich and Kenneth T. Buttery, Kalamazoo,

Mich, assignors, by mesne assignments, to Old Dominion Box Company, Inc., Charlotte, N.C., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Aug. 27, 1957, Ser. No. 680,513 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-17) This invention relates to a dispensing carton or container which is adapted to be repeatedly opened and closed.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a carton which is well adapted for use as a cigarette carton, permitting the removal of the cigarettes successively, the cigarettes being well protected when the carton is closed.

Second, to provide a dispensing carton having these advantages which may be very conveniently operated to open and close the same while the carton is held or supported with one hand.

Third, to provide a dispensing carton having these advantages which may be formed of a single blank and requires very little stock in addition to that required for cartons which do not have the features or advantages of this carton.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a closed carton embodying the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view thereof illustrating the manner of grasping for manipulation of the carton for the removal of the contents.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper end of the carton prior to the closing thereof, the contents being indicated as enclosed in a liner as is common practice with cigarette and like cartons.

FIG. 4 is a top view with the closure member in retracted position prior to the fracture of the liner to permit the removal of contents from the carton.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section with the carton in closed position and illustrating the relation of the liner thereto, cigarettes being indicated in the carton.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the blank of the carton illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6, inclusive.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary rear perspective view.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary rear perspective view with parts broken away to render the same operable, the closure member being shown in its closed position.

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view illustrating the adjustable closure in its open position and the manner of operating the same.

FIG. 12 is a plan View of the blank of the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, inclusive.

While cartons embodying the invention are desirable for use for various materials, they are particularly desirable for cigarette cartons and we have illustrated the same in such an embodiment, cigarettes being conventionally illustrated at 1. In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 7 inclusive the carton is formed of a sin gle blank comprising a pair of opposed side walls 2 and 3 and a second pair of opposed end walls 4 and 5. The sealing flap 6 is connected to the wall 5 and it is lapped upon the inner side of and in fixedly secured relation to the wall 2. These walls are foldably connected by the scores 7. The walls 2 and 3 are provided with overlapping bottom closure members 8 and 9 which are of less width than the width of the walls 2 and 3, respectively, their edges 10 being spaced from their corresponding edges so that when they are overlapped as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 a finger opening 11 is provided. The Wall 5 is provided at its bottom end with an inner clo- :sure member 12 which is disposed on the inner side of the bottom closure members 8 and 9, see FIG. 5. The liner or inner wrapper 13, which is commonly of flexible material, extends across this bottom opening 11. These bottom closure members 8, 9 and 12 are connected to their respective side walls by scores 14. Overlapping top closure members 15 are connected to the upper edges of the walls 2 and 3 by the scores 16. These closure members 15 are of substantially less width than the width of the walls to which they are connected so that when they are in closed position, as is clearly illustrated in the drawings, openings in the top are provided at each side thereof.

The end wall 5 has a top section or flaps 17 swingably secured thereto by the hinging score 18, this top section being separated from the. adjacent wall 3 and the sealing flap -6 by slits 19. On its upper end this swingable section 17 is provided with an elongate inner top closure member 20 which is disposed on the underside of the closure members 15 when in closed position, as shown in FIG. 1, and encloses the contents of the carton. However, the swingable member 17 may be swung outwardly, thereby retracting the closure member 20 to permit withdrawal of the cigarettes or other contents through the opening 21.

Where the opening '11 is present, the cigarettes may be partially ejected by pressing on the lower ends thereof through the opening 11 of the carton as is generally illustrated in FIG. 2. Desirably the inner top closure member 20 is roughened somewhat at 22 as by means of corrugations illustrated to facilitate grasping with the thumb, as is illustrated in FIG. 2. With the parts thus arranged the carton may be picked up and supported with the fingers, the thumb engaging the retractable inner closure member and with one finger positioned to press on the bottom of the liner through the opening 11, part of the top of the liner 13 being torn away before any of the cigarettes are removed. The inner closure member is slidably supported on the top of the contents of the carton so that it moves freely back and forth as it is manipulated to open and close the carton.

In the embodiment of our invention shown in FIGS. 8 to 12 inclusive, the bottom is completely closed, the walls 4 and 5 being provided with inner bottom members 23 while the walls 2 and 3 are provided with outer closure members 24 and 25 respectively.

The wall 5 has a hinged swingable portion 17 at its upper end provided with an inner closure member 20. The walls 2 and 3 of this embodiment have closure members 26 which are of less width than the walls 2 and 3, but extend from the corresponding edges thereof when the carton is erected. These walls have portions 27 which are in overlying relation when the carton is erected, as is shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, but partially severed from the bodies of the closure members as indicated at 28 so that the portions 27 may be broken out to provide finger openings 30, see FIGS. 10 and 11.

The wall 4 is provided with an inner closure member 31 severably connected thereto by the weakened lines 32. When the carton is erected this inner closure member 31 is lapped upon the inner closure member 20 and fixedly secured thereto desirably adhesively. The outer closure members 26 are disposed in overlapping relation to the inner closure member 20 and are adhesively secured together. When it is desired to remove the contents the inner closure member 31 is broken away or fractured from the wall along the line 32, and the inner closure members may then be manipulated to open and close the carton.

Ordinarily the stock used is such that the bottom may be pressed upwardly, that is, it is springable enough to lift the cigarettes sufiiciently for grasping, although they may be grasped through the opening if desired. This form or embodiment of our invention is considered desirable in some respects in that there is no danger of the bottom of the liner being accidentally fractured which would allow the contents to drop through the bottom opening. However, both embodiments are highly practical and may be manipulated to remove the contents, the contents being well covered when the carton is in re-closed position. I

While we have illustrated our invention as embodied in a cigarette carton, we desire to point out that it is desirable and advantageous for use in other relations where it is desired to repeatedly open and close for the removal or discharge of the contents. It will be understood that the cigarette package may be provided with the conventional outer wrapper which we have not illustrated. We have not attempted to illustrate and describe the various embodiments and adaptations of our invention, as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt our invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and is desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A dispensing carton comprising opposed pairs of end and side walls and a bottom, one of said end walls having a swingable section at its upper end of a width corresponding to the width of the carton, an inner top closure member hingedly connected to the upper edge of said swingable section, said inner top closure member extending inwardly toward the opposing end wall and terminating in spaced relation thereto, the opposing end wall having an inner top closure member detachably connected thereto and lappingly connected to the inner end of said first recited inner top closure member and serving to define an extension thereof, said side walls having overlapping connected outer closure members of less width than the side walls to which they are connected and coacting with the side walls to define a top discharge opening for the carton adjacent said opposing end wall, said connected inner closure members constituting a slidably adjustable closure for said discharge opening, and said first recited inner top closure member having means adjacent said hinge connection for sliding said adjustable closure to open position.

2. A dispensing carton comprising opposed pairs of end and side walls and a bottom, one of said end walls having a swingable section at its upper end of a width corresponding to the width of the carton, an inner top closure member hingedly connected to the upper edge of said swingable section, said inner top closure member extending inwardly toward the opposing end wall and terminating in spaced relation thereto, the opposing end wall having an inner top closure member detachably connected thereto and lappingly connected to the inner end of said first recited inner top closure member and serving to define an extension thereof, said side walls having overlapping connected outer closure members of ess width than the side walls to which they are connected and coacting with the side walls to define a top discharge opening for the carton adjacent said opposing end wall, said connected inner closure members constituting a slidably adjustable closure for said discharge opening, and a portion of said inner closure member adjacent said swingable section being scored to facilitate grasping thereof.

3. A dispensing carton comprising opposed pairs of end and side walls and a bottom, one of said end walls having a swingable section at its upper end of a width corresponding to the Width of the carton, an inner top closure member hingedly connected to the upper edge of said swingable section, said inner top closure member extending inwardly toward the opposing end wall and terminating in spaced relation thereto, the opposing end wall having an inner top closure-member detachably connected thereto and lappingly connected to the inner end of said first recited inner top closure member and serving to define an extension thereof, said side walls having overlapping connected outer closure members of less width than the side walls to which they are connected and having cut away portions to expose an upper surface portion of said inner closure member adjacent said swingable section, and said outer closure members coacting with the side walls to define a top discharge opening for the carton adjacent said opposing end wall, said connected inner closure members constituting a slidably adjustable closure for said discharge opening, and said exposed portion of said inner closure member being scored to facilitate grasping thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,951,274 Denman Mar. 13, 1934 1,967,204 Genz July 17, 1934 2,254,608 Heyer Sept. 1941 2,330,926 Rous Oct. 5, 1943 2,440,164 Beckwith d. Apr. 20, 1948 2,651,450 Ellsworth Sept. 8, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 634,802 Germany Sept. 1936 

